Frankie Dettori returning to Royal Ascot for first time since bankruptcy
The superstar jockey, who left Britain at the end of 2023, has not given up on the prospect of riding at the meeting again before he retires from the saddle
Frankie Dettori is returning to Royal Ascot this week - but he won't be riding. The superstar jockey rode 81 winners at the five-day racing extravaganza and topped the leaderboard for most winners at the fixture seven times.
The 54-year-old quit Britain after 35 years at the end of 2023, u-turning on an announced retirement to pick up his career again in the US. He has continued to enjoy success across the Atlantic and this month landed his richest win since his relocation when riding Raging Torrent to victory in the £1 million Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga.
Raging Torrent has helped Dettori to 21 wins in the US in 2025 for earnings of £2.3m in the wake of a challenging start to the year when he had to declare bankruptcy in Britain. A petition on behalf of the jockey was filed in March after his tax arrangements were challenged by HMRC
'I am saddened and embarrassed by this outcome and would advise others to take a stronger rein over their financial matters,' he said in a statement at the time.
'Bankruptcy is a major decision and its consequences will affect me for many years. I am relieved to be drawing a line on this long-term matter, which enables me to reset and focus on my international riding career.'
Dettori attended Royal Ascot 12 months ago as a spectator and he will do the same this year despite an urge to ride competitively again before he retires.
'I won't lie to you, I do have the little devil on my shoulder that says to me 'one more time' but I just didn't think that this year or last year would have been appropriate,' said Dettori in a blog for betting site Stake.
'But I will be coming over to Ascot, with a little bit of anxiety feeling that I could have rode.'
He continued: 'I did get some offers but I am not going to lie, I do miss it. I had over 80 winners, it has been a huge part of my life. It is quite hard but after a few champagnes, I get over it. I really do miss it though.
'I will be there this year. There is a bit of a period from now until Saratoga, I will fly over this weekend, it is my daughter's birthday and I will try and see as many kids as I can in my tribe of five, and show my face at Royal Ascot and see some old friends before I come back to Saratoga and start again. I use this opportunity to enjoy the racing and then see the family.'
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